by Sandra Cox
Piper and I look at each other. “Vampire squid?” she mouths.
“Yes,” I mouth back as I study the reddish gelatinous body. I’m surprised to see it in the net. The species is nearly extinct. Again, I pull out my knife to cut the net but Piper is quicker and darts in front of me. As she saws on the net, the squid becomes agitated and shoots out a thick cloud of bioluminescent mucus filled with streams of blinding blue light. I’m caught in the periphery but Piper catches the full blast. She’s enshrouded in the sticky substance that is flashing like strobe lights. Disoriented, she drops her knife and begins to sink. I grab her arm and, with my other hand, hack open the net beneath the squid.
The squid drops through the bottom of the net and swims away. Holding onto Piper, I swim for the surface, propelling her with me. When she surfaces, water shoots out of her blowhole as she chuffs. “Can’t see,” she gasps.
“It’s okay, Piper. It’ll pass.”
“All I can see are streaks of blue.”
“Give it a minute.”
“Was that what I think it was?” She breathes through her mouth, her chest heaving.
“It was a vampire squid. I’ve heard of them but never seen them. They’re usually found a lot deeper in the ocean.”
“Yeah.”
“Better?”
“I feel like I’m on a dance floor with a thousand strobe lights going at once. I can’t see anything else.” Her voice has a note of panic.
“It’ll wear off. I promise. Come on, I’ll tow you back.” I put my arm across her chest and under her armpit and begin to swim to shore, only too aware of the lift and fall of her wet, warm breasts as she breathes.
When my feet touch sand, I stand and lift her in my arms.
“I can walk.” Her arms tighten around my neck as she speaks. My heart begins to pound a hard, irregular beat. Darkness surrounds us like a cloak.
“Can you see yet?” At least that’s what I meant to say but my throat is dry. I clear it and try again, “Can you see yet?”
She squints. “It’s getting better.”
Out of the dark, Tyler appears like an avenging fury and pushes me away from her. “I am so going to kick your ass.”
“Stop it, Tyler,” Piper screams.
“Be careful with her. She got slimed by a vampire squid and can’t see.”
“A vampire squid? Right. Are you sure it wasn’t a zombie octopus?”
My temper rises. I ruthlessly push it down. “Tyler, be careful with her. She’s still dealing with the effects of the squid.”
His grip on her loosens and he holds on to her shoulders. “You got inked by a vampire squid? Seriously?”
She nods.
“Can you see yet?” I ask.
She swipes at her eyes. “It’s getting better.”
“Stay here. I’ll get the car and take you to the hospital,” His fingers gentle, Tyler touches her cheeks.
“No. It’ll wear off,” she says.
He looks at me. “Will it?”
“It should wear off in the next five minutes or so.” I watch her closely.
“The flashing lights are dimmer.” She gives me a shaky smile then turns to Tyler. “Did you hear from your uncle?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?” Piper asks, rubbing her eyes.
“The credit card number went through.”
“What did he order?”
“I didn’t ask. I don’t want to know. I don’t suppose you know the credit limit on the card do you?”
“No. I don’t. Why?”
“He’ll give us two hundred and fifty thousand in counterfeit money. If he doesn’t get sixty thousand out of the credit card, we owe him.” In the dim light, Tyler’s features are glum.
I juggle my hands. “Two hundred fifty thousand in counterfeit money. Sixty thousand real. Seems like a more than fair exchange.”
Tyler shrugs. “That’s how the mafia works. Kinda like the banks, only the banks are considered legal.”
“It is what it is. And I owe him. You don’t, Tyler. You’ve done enough.” I step forward and stick out my hand.
He hesitates for a moment then takes it. “Sorry, I misunderstood the situation.” His voice is gruff.
“Understandable.” I shift on my feet, uncomfortable. “How’s your vision, Piper?”
“It’s coming back.” Relief is in her voice.
“Good news.” I change the subject. “What if two hundred and fifty thousand isn’t enough?”
“It’s going to have to be,” Tyler answers, mouth set in a straight line, brow furrowed.
“So what do we do now?” Piper asks.
“Wait.”
Chapter 16
Hands wrapped around her arms, Piper paces in the small kitchen. “It’s been a week and we haven’t heard from Stranger, though every other scientist and marine biologist in the western hemisphere has contacted us.”
I take a sip of coffee and enjoy the slide of the warm, rich liquid down my throat. “Today is Sunday. There’s a good chance we’ll hear today. Sundays always draw the largest readership.”
She continues to stalk back and forth. “Why would we hear today when we haven’t all week?”
“Historically, Sunday is when most ads get the best response. We ordered regular-sized ads during the week and a half page on Sunday. He’ll see it. We have it in every scientific magazine he subscribes too. Compliments of Mr. Davis at Ziccon.”
“Why don’t you check your email?”
“I just checked ten minutes ago.” I chomp down on a piece of buttered toast.
Mr. Dunn rattles his paper. “Let the young man eat his breakfast, Pip.”
Piper whirls so quickly her hair swings out then settles back around her head. “I want my daughter.”
I rise, coffee cup in hand, “I’ll check again.” The laptop is on an old scarred desk in the corner of the living room. I settle in and check the twenty-some-odd emails that have come in this morning in response to the ad. I skim through the first sixteen. On the seventeenth, my blood quickens as I read.
I have a baby whose intelligence is on par with a six-year-old’s. She has as much affinity with the sea as any sea creature born in it. Her services will not be cheap. If interested contact me at the following address....
“Got you, you bastard,” I murmur.
Piper is peeping over my shoulder. “It’s him isn’t it?”
“Got to be.”
I begin typing. Your subject sounds like it may fit our requirements. How old is she? I quickly backspace she, add the subject, and hit send.
A moment later, a response comes back.
Four weeks.
I type: That may be too young. Send.
“What are you doing?” Piper’s nails bite into my arm.
“We don’t want to appear too anxious.”
“He’s right, Piper,” Amy says. I don’t know how long she’s been standing there. “He has an unbelievable ego. If we are too eager, he’ll brush us off.”
The reply comes in.
Technically she is four weeks. Her coordination and communication skills are that of a six-month-old.
“Oh my God.” Dazed, Piper sinks to the floor, her back against the wall.
“I told you she was smart.” My lips stretch wide. Euphoria fills me.
“Six-month-old coordination and six-year-old intelligence, unbelievable,” Piper murmurs.
“Believe it,” I say, filled with pride. “That’s our girl.”
Piper looks at me and I look at her. In that moment, an invisible link joins us that nothing can break—parenthood.
Stranger sends another message.
Satisfied?
Yes. Your subject will work for our study, I reply.
It will cost you half a million up front.
Tension skitters down my spine. For two weeks? I don’t think so. I’ll pay you a hundred thousand up front and a
hundred thousand at the end of the study…if she successfully helps us collect the data we’re looking for.
I’ll not share my specimen for such a paltry amount. I guarantee you’ll never encounter another subject like this one.
I inhale and exhale in a whoosh. Piper comes and stands beside me, reading over my shoulder. Her hand tightens on my arm as I type: If she’s as good as you say she is, I’ll throw in another hundred thousand.
What exactly is your study?
To see if humans can adapt to living in water if they are indoctrinated early enough. A hundred and fifty up front then.
I’ve told you my terms. I won’t accept a penny less.
You drive a hard bargain. All right, two hundred fifty up front and if our studies are successful, I’ll pay another three hundred fifty thousand at their conclusion. If they aren’t, you will already have the two hundred fifty. And for that price we expect you to bring her to us.
If travel expenses are part of the price, you’ll need to add another one hundred thousand.
Done. But remember the four hundred fifty thousand depends on her performance.
Her performance won’t be an issue but I expect travel to be covered regardless. Where do you want the subject and when?
I pause. Darn good question. A week from today in Florence, Oregon.
That is acceptable. An attendant will accompany us. I will fly in with them and the attendant will stay with the child. I don’t trust wires. One number incorrectly coded and the money disappears. I deal in cash only.
I wipe my damp forehead with a shaky hand. I’ll have it ready.
I’ll be flying in on a private plane. I’ll let you know when it arrives.
I wait a few minutes but there are no more transmissions.
My tense muscles sag.
“You did it, Joel,” Piper breathes.
“Yeah.” I’m emotionally drained. “Would you call Tyler and ask him to make arrangements to get the money? Thank God Stranger has a phobia about transfers. I don’t know what we would have done if he’d asked for it wired.”
“We would have gotten the money together somehow.”
Mr. Dunn, who walked in unnoticed, clears his throat. “I could have always sold my boat.”
“Oh, Gramps.” Piper runs to him and hugs him. “Thank goodness it didn’t come to that.”
“Go ahead and call Tyler, Pip. It’s time we had a powwow.”
* * * *
Midafternoon, Tyler arrives with lattes. “I thought we’d celebrate since we’ve successfully completed stage one.”
“Two if you count borrowing the money from the Mafia, which I certainly do.” I pull up a chair at the kitchen table and reach for a vanilla latte. “Thanks.”
“Could we just leave the M word out of this?” Tyler looks around and rubs his hands down the side of his pants.
“Yeah, sure.” I suck down half the latte in one gulp.
“I’ll make some popcorn.” Mr. Dunn heads for the kitchen stove and heats the popcorn pan.
“So what’s the plan?” Tyler balances his chair on two legs.
“He’s flying in to Florence, Oregon with the baby,” I say.
“Why Florence?” Tyler asks.
“His lab is in Mexico. I’d rather steer clear of it. I’m afraid California would make him suspicious.” I toss my hands in the air. “So, Oregon.”
“I think Oregon is perfect.” Amy smiles.
I can always count on my sister for support.
Tyler brings his chair down with a thud to an accompaniment of pop, pop, pop as the kernels of corn explode in the pan. “I’ll call my uncle tonight and see about flying into Chicago day after tomorrow then rent a car to drive back.” He looks a little green. Making a Mafia request has that effect.
“I’ll go with you,” I say.
He looks from me to Piper as if weighing the odds of keeping us apart then shakes his head. “Thanks for the offer, but you probably better stay here and work out the details, not to mention be available if Stranger tries to get in touch with Dr. Jones.” He looks over at Mr. Dunn popping corn and grins.
“At your service,” Mr. Dunn replies.
We laugh.
Mr. Dunn pours the popcorn into a large bowl and places it in the middle of the table. He pulls out a chair and lowers his lanky frame into it. “What’s the plan after we make the exchange?”
“We split up and approach our destination from different directions.” I toss several kernels of popcorn in my mouth.
“And what is our destination?” Piper pushes her hair behind her ears, then sips her latte.
“I’m open for suggestions.” I swirl my empty latte glass in circles on the table.
Mr. Dunn clears his throat. “I have a couple of little properties in Jamaica and the Bahamas.”
Piper’s glass comes down with a thump. “What?”
“What’s the matter, girl. You gotta hearing problem?”
“Gramps, you’ve never mentioned this to me. How long have you had it?”
“For a few years. No need to act so surprised. I bought when the price was down. Nothing fancy, just a little plot and cottage in both places. I figured someday we’d need to skedaddle. Looks like someday is here.”
Piper jumps up and throws her arms around him. “Oh, Gramps, what would I do without you?”
He gives her an awkward pat on the shoulder. “You’re not going to be finding out for a long time. I’m going to have a great granddaughter to raise.” He gives her a wide smile.
“You bet.”
“Okay, so where are we headed?” I ask.
“Does that mean you’re going?” Tyler says.
“Yes. Are you?”
“Yes.”
“The more the merrier.” Gramps raises his latte in salute.
“Okay, where are we going?” Her eyes bright, Amy is practically jumping up and down in her seat.
Gramps tosses her a coin. “Heads Jamaica, tails Bahamas.”
She flips the coin high in the air. It twirls over and over and lands on the back of her hand. She slaps her palm on top of it, looks around the table and smiles, and then lifts her hand. “Tails, Bahamas.”
“Looks like we’re heading for the Bahamas.”
“Good enough. Let’s go over everything one more time.” I point at Mr. Dunn.
“Holly and I go to the airport to give the briefcase to Stranger and pick up the baby.”
“You’re sure your twin is good with this?” I ask Tyler.
“She’s thrilled to have a role to play.” He drums his fingers against the edge of the table.
“And the attendant?” I ask Amy.
“Mr. Dunn and Holly drug her.”
“And from there?” I ask Piper.
“We drive back to California then head for the Bahamas. You drive your boat and Gramps drives his.”
I push back the nerves that are jumping under my skin. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 17
The week has passed in a blur. On the outskirts of Florence, we pull into a motel.
“Pip, here’s my credit card. Go rent the room.”
She takes Mr. Dunn’s card and slips out of Tyler’s SUV. A few minutes later, she comes back with a key and points to a cottage at the end of the complex. Amy, Tyler, and I tumble out of the vehicle. “Good luck,” I say to Mr. Dunn. “Thanks for doing this, Holly.”
“Piper’s a friend of mine. She saved Tyler’s life. That’s a debt I can never repay.”
“I’d say you’re paying it now. Do you have the drugs to take care of the attendant?”
She holds up a packet and gives me a cheeky smile. “Don’t worry about a thing.”
Holly Carlisle has to be one of the most confident, self-possessed young women I’ve ever met.
“The briefcase with the money in it?” I ask.
Mr. Dunn raises it from the front seat.
“Don’t forg
et to turn into the reserved section of the airport. They’ll be flying in on a small private plane.”
Mr. Dunn leans forward in his seat. “Relax, son, we have this covered.”
“Are you feeling okay, Gramps?” Piper asks.
“You relax too, Pip. Now let Holly and I get on our way.”
I give them a thumbs-up and shut the door of the SUV. As they drive away, Piper waves until the vehicle is out of sight.
Tyler puts his arm around Piper. “They’re going to be just fine.” I turn away from the intimacy displayed between the two of them. I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. What if something goes wrong? “We might as well go inside, so we don’t attract attention.” I take the key-card from Piper. Her hand feels like ice. “We better get you inside where it’s warm. Even if it’s spring, the weather here is still brisk.”
She nods. Shivers ripple up her arms. Whether it’s from the cold or nerves, I have no idea. Maybe both.
I open the door. The room is small and the furniture worn, but at least it’s clean. “There’s a restaurant across the street. I could run over and grab us something to eat. Are you hungry?”
“No.”
I look at Tyler. He shakes his head.
“I think I’ll grab a soda. If you change your mind, call me. Ames, do you want anything?”
“Burger and fries. Thanks.”
“Here.” Tyler tosses me the baseball cap he’s wearing. “Just in case.”
“Thanks.” I stick it on my head, let myself out of the room, and run across the street. I get in the shortest line. Have they made the exchange yet? Are they okay? I glance out the window, even though I know it’s too soon for them to be back.
People ahead of me are placing their orders. “I’ll have a burger and medium fries. And put a rush on it, would ya?” I freeze in place. I glance over the shoulder of the man in front of me. Craven! What the hell is he doing here? As unobtrusively as possible, I turn around and head out the door. Tingles of electricity shoot through my nervous system. I force myself not to run. I don’t want to draw attention. The few moments it takes to get back to the room feel like an eternity. The hair on the back of my neck rises. I swear someone’s watching me. I reach the cottage and let myself in then lean against the door.
